Pricing
Like many other online dating sites, GayCupid implements tiered membership to generate revenue for the business. You’ve got the Standard plan, which lets you register and create a profile for free. With basic access to the site, you can then engage in some light profile browsing and match searches. You’ll also be able to express interest by sending generic messages like winks to other users. However, you’ll only be able to get messages from paying members, and even then, your reply options are limited.
If you truly want to get in the GayCupid game, you’ll need a Gold or Platinum membership, which come with monthly fees.
7th Place8.1 out of 10The Gold membership unlocks your ability to send and receive emails from other users, as well as chat with them in real-time through instant messaging. This is on top of the usual access, browsing, and basic matching features you get on a free plan. You’ll also get rid of the ads that would otherwise elbow in on your site experience.
The Platinum plan is where GayCupid really shines. This plan boosts your profile’s visibility, not just in other users’ search results but in the site as a whole, thanks to the profile highlighting feature. You’ll get more and better search filters, a more sophisticated matching system, plus access to multi-language support — handy if you’re not a native English speaker.
GayCupid conveniently takes a wide range of payment methods. Aside from the usual credit and debit cards, you can also pay via PayPal, checks, bank transfers, and even vouchers. Since GayCupid also runs locale-specific versions of the site, there are often additional options depending on your country of origin.
3-Month Platinum Trial
Don’t pull your wallet out just yet, though. As of this writing, GayCupid has a limited-time offer: If you add a photo to your profile, you’ll get three months of a Platinum subscription, free of charge. That’s a great way to check out the full extent of GayCupid’s features without breaking the bank.
Features
GayCupid sticks closely to formula when it comes to features, covering all the usual online dating essentials. This site doesn’t veer towards one type of relationship or another, so you’re free to search for a casual fling, a potential spouse, or everything in between.
There aren’t any lengthy personality quizzes or compatibility assessments here. Instead, you’ll fill out a fairly freeform profile, indicating your basic information, interests, and anything else you care to mention. GayCupid vets all new profiles and significant profile changes to ensure that they comply with site guidelines, so the odds of running into a wall of vulgar, crude, fake, or simply blank profiles are pretty low.
Matching and Search Options
There’s no automatic match generation here, but GayCupid does let you run searches with custom filters. If you want to go beyond the typical location, age, or other basic attributes, you’ll need the advanced search options of Platinum membership. These let you refine your search further, drilling down into specific shared interests or preferred characteristics.
You’ll also have the option to save your search criteria as a template, meaning you won’t have to re-enter each filter again if you want to run the same search more than once. This is great if you want fresh sets of matches that fit your selected criteria.
Communication Tools
Connecting with interesting people is easy, though you really won’t find anything new or groundbreaking here. Most communication on GayCupid takes place through the site’s email and instant messaging systems, which are par for the course for an online dating site. However, access to both is limited to Gold and Platinum members, so you’ll need to get a paid subscription first.
If a particular user holds your interest, you can also keep track of their updates by adding them to your favorites. Playing the field and worried you’ll lose track of the details of your interactions? GayCupid also lets you keep Private Notes on different users to help you stay on top of your conversations.
Unfortunately, that convenience only goes so far, as GayCupid doesn’t have companion apps for mobile devices. If you’re on the go, you’ll have to settle for accessing the site through your device’s browser.
Privacy and Security
Aside from GayCupid’s content screening process, the site also keeps users safe by giving them the usual options to block and report offensive or abusive members.
Customer Support
GayCupid has a thorough FAQ section that can cover most typical issues and questions. If you need one-on-one assistance, you can also reach GayCupid’s support staff through email, their online support request form, phone and fax, and even regular mail.
What's the Verdict on GayCupid?
GayCupid Review 2020 – Conclusion
As the Cupid Media network’s official entry into the gay dating business, GayCupid reflects quite a lot of its parent brand’s features. You’ll get all the bells and whistles typical of an online dating site here, and GayCupid doesn’t really add much to the standard formula. That said, a paid subscription will net you a packed set of features. Compared to the excellent, free options on this list, GayCupid doesn’t really stand out, unless it’s for the site’s glaring lack of mobile apps. On its own, though, and with a Platinum trial on offer, GayCupid is still worth a shot.
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